Magazine fuse-box for electric circuits



"(No Model.)

' W. P. BOSSERT.

MAGAZINE FUSE BOX FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS. No. 439,859.

Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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VILLIAM FR. BOSSERT, OF ILION, NEXV YORK.

MAGAZINE FUSE-BOX FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,859, dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed July 30, 1890, Serial No. 360,375. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, WILLIAM FR. BossER'r, acitizen of the United States, residing in Ilion, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magazine Fuse-Boxes for Electric Circuits, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to magazine f use-boxes for electric circuits, the object being to provide means whereby when one fuse is blown another will be automatically thrown into circuit, the means employedbeing eleetro-magnetic devices controlled by the current itself.

In general terms the invention consists of a series of fuse-strips in combination with an arm adapted to move step by step and an electro magnet or solenoid arranged to move said arm through a segmental rack and pawl one step each time it is energized. The main current is shunted into the magnet or solenoid whenever the fuse through which the current is flowing is destroyed.

The details of my invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the box with the face removed; and Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the box, showing parts of the mechanism in section and parts in side elevation.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A represents the box or housing containing the apparatus. B and B represent the two main binding-posts, to one of which is pivoted a short-circuiting lever b, which may be used to cut the whole box out of circuit. Near the center of the box is placed a metallic stud a, upon which is loosely mounted a hub 0, carrying a rack-segment c and an arm 0. The arm has two sleeves or elongated hubs c 0 in each of which is a rod 0 0, connected with a presser-foot or contact-shoe c cl (1, &c., representaseries of contact-plates arranged on a circle and insulated from each other. The contact-shoe c is adapted to be brought into connection, successively, with these contact-plates (1. Each of the contactplates d is provided with a binding-screw d, which receives one end of afusible strip 61 The opposite ends of the fusible strips are all connected with a continuous metallic strip or bar d and the latter is in electrical connection with the main binding-post B through metallic link (1 The hub c is chambered at its upper end, and the stud a a is fitted with a screw-cap a, which passes into the chamber in the hub, as shown, and forms a stop against which a spiral spring a may press, its other end being against the bottom of the chamber. The object of this is to force the hub toward the back of the box, thus carrying the contactscrew 0 against the contact-plates d. The shoe is also held against the plates by the coil-spring 0 In the upper part of the box there is placed a solenoid or magnet E, with a core 6, having a range of movement through the side of the box. Adjacent to this solenoid I fix a stud F, on which is loosely placed a sleeve f, carrying three arms f, f and f The arm f is comparatively short, and has pivoted to its outer end a pawl f which is adapted to engage with the teeth of the rack c. The arm f has attached to its front end a coil-spring f which when the sleeve is turned on the stud serves to rotate it to the position in which it is shown in the drawings. The arm f is connected by a link with the core of the solenoid. The stud a is in electrical connection with binding-post B through wire 1. The solenoid E is in a circuit extending from stud a, by wire 2, the coil, and wires to bindingpost B.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: With the parts in the position shown the circuit is from binding-post B, through wire 1, post a, arm 0 contact-shoe 0 the first plate d to the left, the first fuse-strip to the left (1 the strip (1 the line (1 and to the binding-post B. Now, if the fuse (1 through which the current is passing, becomes destroyed by reason of an abnormal excess of current, the main circuit will be as follows: from binding-post B, through wire 1, post a, wire 2, solenoid E, and wire 3, to post B. This will energize the solenoid, and its core will be turned to the right, swinging the sleeve f, and causing the pawl f to move the rack to the left until the shoe 0 has been carried onto the two contact-plates D. This will establish a new circuit for the current, which will then forsake the solenoid. The spring or its equiv- TOO alent will then act to return the sleeve f to its normal position, thus withdrawing the pawl f until it falls into the second notch. This operation is repeated every time afusestrip is blown until they are all destroyed. A pointer g is attached to the hub c and moves across the face of the box to indicate how many fuses are destroyed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The combination, with a series of fusestrips, of a series of contact-plates, one for each strip, a switch-arm adapted to make contact,

successively, with the contact-strips, a segmental rack connected with the switch-arm, a pawl adapted to engage with the rack, and a solenoid or magnet operating the pawl whenever it is energized, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing 20 witnesses.

WVILLIAM FR. BOSSERT.

Witnesses:

EMERSON D. COLLINS, THOMAS HOLLAND. 

